Did I... just think of something unthinkable?
In the chilling seconds that followed, the full weight of my words hit me. How could I think of something so unbelievable?!
I try to compose myself but fail, over and over again, even though Arata has already stated in past that he trusts us. How could... How could I think of this?!
"Hey... this just my opinion but could the Le Fleur not trust us?" Rum says and the others don't reply.
"Arata... has had a habbit of hiding things in the past." Will says and holds Arata close. "But I think we can trust him."
"Alexis, are you alright?" Alistar asks and I nodded.
"I think we shouldn't think too much about this." Andrew said. "Just like last time, I'm sure Arata will tell us eventually."
"He's right. Let's just be patient." Reinhardt says.
After that we decide that no matter what Arata is hiding from us we'll have faith in him.
As Arata wakes up, we find the bright shine of his eyes a welcome sight. He yawns and then gets back on his feet and looks at us.
"Is something wrong?" Ethan asked.
"You guys, did you think of something unnecessary, you better not think I don't trust you or something like that!" Arata fumed. "I trust you, it's just that what I know right now isn't something that needs to be known right now."
"Everything has a time for it." Van sighed. "Alrught, we'll let you pass this time."
"Alexis come with me for a bit, you too, Zhen." Arata says and we follow him.
As we walk to the old building, he stops midway and turns to us.
"Both of you, I think you've been thinking about unnecessary things." Arata says as he takes our hands. "Zhen, Alexis, I'm not the type to lie or keep quiet about anything. So, I also want you two to tell me what is wrong?"
Zhen... did he think the same thing I did? Or is it... that thing we talked about? About what is Love? Well whatever it is, I have a feeling he won't tell Arata with me around or so I thought. He talks, and not in his usual cheery way but in a dark and gloomy way.
"Arata, I've been having dreams these nights. All of them are dreams about you disappearing." He says. "Arata, please tell me, these feelings in my chest, this aching, these things I've never felt before, what are they?!"
"Zhen..." Arata is taken a back by Zhen's directness but when he calms down he answers. "I don't know either. If you, who has those emotions can't understand them then I surely won't be able to either."
Zhen nods, but there's something wrong. Zhen seems to be very gloomy, like he has lost something. His eyes right now are that of a man who has been lost, eyes of a man who had wandered the darkness aimlessly.
"Zhen, don't ever doubt your emotions. The reason Zhen is zhen is ebcause he acts on his instincts and emotions."Arata says kissing his forehead. "Go on back, I need to have a word with Alexis."
Zhen returns leaving me and Arata alone. Arata smiles and takes me to the benches.
"So, is something wrong?" I asked as we sat down and Arata leans in close.
"Alexis, I love each and everyone of you and I trust you very much. But what you thought of earlier really hurt me." He says. "Never forget these words I'm about to tell you."
----
Zhen returns, Alexis and Arata must still be talking. Will is sipping tea and Reinhardt is reading a book.
"So, what did Arata say?" Ethan asked him.
"He said that these emotions I feel are something only I can understand." Zhen answered.
"Where's Alexis?" Andrew asked.
"Still talking." He answers.
When the two return, I see a complete change, Alexis seems to be at peace, whatever Arata said must've cleared all the worries in his mind.
Arata sits down with us, he snuggles close to Will and that's when Mayumi and the others return. Mayumi seems to be in a good mood as she skips about.
"What's with her?" Andrew asked.
"Apparently, the school has decided to hold a camping trip." Hattori smiled. "Not sure why but it seems to be on the premise of helping students relax."
"I think that's good." Arata says. "So where will the camp be held?"
"Blue Lagoon City." With Mao's words we're taken by surprise.
Blue Lagoon City, it's a famous resort north of here, we've never been there before but it's pretty famous.
"Whoa! Blue Lagoon City?! I can't wait!" Arata jumped happily.
"Well, the camp is in a week, but... before we can go to the camp... we have to survive the exams." Touya says.
------
In the West, Milo, Albert, Rosemary and Hildegard were investigating the source of the core that they presented to Arata.
"Anything?" Milo asked.
"From these readings... they seem to have hidden their base well." Rosemary says. "I can't pick up abnormal Vi anywhere."
"We have to figure out where and how they created these cores." Albert says. "Arata is counting on us."
The four were digging into the case, little did they know that something big was waiting for them. After all, the cores were made specifically so that they would find them.
"That's it, keep searching, foolish ones." Pierrot grinned.
He was using them as tools for his next scheme. He was planning yet another something but this time he didn't let either Karin or Sirius know.
Because both were busy with their own plots. Karin was especially busy, she was preparing to attack but she was still missing a few tools. The three are starting to recover and prepare for their next move. They werw all just waiting for when the time is ripe.
Karin smiled wryly and as she held the tool in her hand she laughed hysterically.
"It's time Arata! Time for your Requiem!" She laughed. "There's no running away."